Playing in the Panhandle Area Description

A spot in North Idaho

North Idaho is a showcase of many beauties: rolling wooded hills, clear lakes and scenic mountains. Because there are so many vacation opportunities, narrowing it down to one specific place was tough. We decided on centering our family getaway in and around Coeur d'Alene.

Coeur d'Alene is the largest city in Idaho's panhandle. ABC Journalist Barbara Walters includes it on her list of the most fascinating places to visit. It is also one of the "1000 Places to Visit Before You Die" from the book by Patricia Schultz. The city sits on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene and is surrounded by forests. Tourism is a growing business, enhanced by numerous recreational opportunities. In Coeur d'Alene, we filmed at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort, the Spa at the Coeur d'Alene Resort and we took an evening boat cruise around Lake Coeur d'Alene.

In this getaway, we visited two other areas in this region: The Clark House on Hayden Lake and Silverwood Theme Park in Athol. Hayden Lake is four miles north of Coeur d'Alene. The lake has an irregular forty-mile shoreline and a depth of 800 feet. The Clark House was once the most expensive private home in the state. It is now restored as a bed and breakfast.

Silverwood is in Athol, less than 20 miles north of Coeur d'Alene. This theme park is the largest in the Northwest, covering 212 square miles. It has more than 60 attractions, including three rollercoaster and a water park.